The 49th And The 35th

Tom Dadey, a Republican and erstwhile candidate in the 49th Senate District, formally withdrew from the race this afternoon, citing the toll a “long and difficult” three-way contest would take on his family.

“Quite simply, it’s time to put my family first so I can be the best dad and husband I can be, and to step back and leave the politics to others,” Dadey said, adding that he intends to remain active in Republican politics in Central New York.

Asseblyman Jeff Brown, who is now the sole Republican in the race against Democratic Sen. David Valesky, praised Dadey and the “gracious manner in which he announced that decision.”

“Tom is a talented individual and would have been a worthy opponent,” said Brown, who also has the Conservative and Independence lines. “A primary campaign against him would have been hard-fought, and would have drained the necessary resources we will need in the general election this fall. Tom has a bright future ahead of him, whether in elective politics or the business world.”

I’m still awaiting comment from Valesky and from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s office, but it’s a safe bet the former isn’t too happy, while the latter is pleased as punch.

This must be a nice tonic for Bruno to take away the sting from the fact that Working Families PartyÂ has said it might not back Sen. Nick Spano, R-Yonkers, now that the Fair Share bill is officially dead.

Even without the WFP’s backing, however,Â many observers consider Spano fairly safe this fall from a repeat ofÂ his now-infamous 18-vote win of 2004 – even though he won 1,800 votes on that ballot line.

That’s largely due to voting trends in the Democrat-dominated 35th Senate District in presidential election years,Â whichÂ (needless to say) this is not. Â

Some believe the WFP line putÂ Spano over the top in the race against Democratic Westchester County Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who is again challenging him this year.

I’m hearing the Senate GOP is right now negotiating with the WFP in an effort to keep the party in Spano’s corner. At issue isÂ the bill that would make some 50,000 day care workers unionized state employees, which Pataki vetoed and the WFP very much wants the Senate to override.